Wadea and Aelyas Kassab Memoirs 1954-1958

The materials in this collection are in English.

Wadea Kassab was born in Damascus in 1872 to an Orthodox family connected to British and American Protestant missionaries. Wadea immigrated from Syria to the United States in 1889, moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a former teacher of his had settled. He first worked in a stove factory and later became a molder in a factory making brake shoes for the railroad. After leaving the factory, he spent several years working on a farm, peddling fancy goods, and doing other miscellaneous jobs. During this time, he built relationships with Americans, including the O’Neill family of Chester, Pennsylvania. Wadea graduated from dental school in Philadelphia in 1895 and practiced dentistry in Chester. He began taking care of the O'Neills, who had financed and encouraged his dental career.

Aelyas (Elias) Kassab, Wadea’s younger brother, was born in Bloudan, Syria in 1883. Aelyas followed Wadea to the United States in 1899. After completing high school in Chester, PA, he also attended dental school and practiced dentistry at Wadea’s office. 

Both brothers married in Syria and brought their wives to the United States. In 1905, Wadea married Sara Hajjar, who had been educated at an English boarding school and was teaching at a mission school for Jewish children in Damascus prior to her marriage. In 1921, Aelyas married Soumaya Khoury of Beirut, Lebanon. The Kassab brothers both raised their families in Chester. Aelyas continued the brothers' dental practice while Wadea attempted a career in real estate. When this failed, Wadea rejoined the dental practice. Wadea died in February 1972, and Aelyas in October 1987. The brothers are both buried in Pennsylvania.

This collection contains a photograph of Wadea and Aelyas Kassab and two typed manuscripts: “Memoirs” by Wadea Kassab and "Kassab Family History” by Aelyas Kassab. The manuscripts offer insight into the social fabric and workplace challenges faced by early immigrants.

This collection is arranged in the order it was received.

The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.

[Identification of item], Wadea and Aelyas Kassab Memoirs, KC 0035, Hoda Z. Nassour and Herbert R. Nassour Jr., MD, Archive of Lebanese Diaspora

Gift of the family of Wadea and Aelyas Kassab, 2017 August (Accession No. 2017.014).

Processed by Khayrallah Center staff. Finding aid content contributed by Linda Jacobs and Claire A. Kempa and updated by Allison Hall, 2023 November. Finding aid created by Allison Hall, 2023 November.